Sixty committed volunteers, staff and supporters gathered at TTR’s Team day to share what God has done, is doing and will do through and with each other.

Chief Executive, Jacky Oliver, welcomed the delegates and David Dawson, Deputy Chair of TTR, opened the event with prayer before the organisation’s different programme leaders updated delegates on the latest current developments.

After lunch, those attending the day were able to spend time in meditation, facilitated by visiting speaker, Carol Collier from ‘Same Image, Different Package’ – which is in the process of becoming an Associate ministry of TTR.  Everyone celebrated 10 years of the charity’s programme, Wheels for the World, with tea and cake and the launch of a new DVD which profiles the latest successful work of Wheels’ team members.  As well as looking back delegates were encouraged to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the charity and interactive group discussions drew out several helpful ideas to assist the charity in planning for the future.

If you would like a copy of the new DVD, the charity’s new CD-ROM presentation or would like to give your input to the future planning exercise, please contact us.

Please pray for the work of the Disabled Christians Fellowship, for groups, holidays, hubs and the ongoing CD/Tape ministry. Check our website for a list of prayer needs by following this link.

Give

Almost all our income comes from churches and individual donations. We are dependent on gifts for financial support and we value all amounts, large or small. There are various methods to raise funds and if you are a taxpayer we can reclaim the tax through Gift Aid.
You can check out our website for ideas so please consider partnering with us in this way — follow this link to our donations page.

Serve

Please consider serving at a local DCF group (follow this link to find your nearest group) or helping on one of our holidays. Follow this link to find out more about helping on a DCF holiday.

Tell

Please do tell your friends and others about DCF — we’re very grateful for all those who hear about us through word-of-mouth. Perhaps try spreading DCF by writing in your church or newsletter or sign up to our Facebook page (follow this link to find out more about joining facebook) and share your experiences.

• Follow this link to return to TTR’s home page
• Follow this link to return to the main DCF page

Why?

Only 2% of disabled children in developing countries receive an education. The Integr8 project wants to see every disabled child in developing countries fulfil their God-given potential in education

Who?

A team of teachers and education professionals, plus a young role model with personal experience of disability

When?

August 18th – 28th 2008

Where?

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, South India

How?

Working alongside the local church, schools and mission partners we shall:

• Provide training, mentoring, resources, encouragement and inspiration to include more disabled children in education
• Educate teachers, parents, churches about disability from a Christian perspective
• Demonstrate God’s love for disabled people
• ‘…those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it’ 1 Cor 12

Team members:

Integr8 International
Leader : Tim
Educational professionals : Isabel, Joy, Michele
Young disabled role model : Abigail
Photographer : Rob

India Team includes
Bishop Devamani of the Church of South India, Mr Prabhaker, Nahil and the team from St Mary’s Centre, Khammam; Daniel and Avitha of Agape Rehabilitation Centre, Chennai

Please pray for

• Preparation of team members
• Health, safety & protection of team members throughout the trip
• Clarity and understanding through interpreters and wisdom when speaking
• For God to speak through the team
• Opportunities to demonstrate God’s love for disabled people
• Fellowship within the team and with local Christians
• For transformed lives through meeting Jesus

• Follow this link to return to our prayer page
• Follow this link to return to the TTR home page

We were particularly pleased to hear of the influence the Wheels for the World visits have had upon the local community - there is now a programme for corrective surgery for children with club feet, a programme for cataract removal, and outreach into rural areas and access to government. 

The team were delighted to have provided mobility, at the same time sharing the Gospel and showing God’s love to disabled people.

• Follow this link for a gallery of photos from the Kimilili trip

• Follow this link to the Through the Roof home page
• Follow this link to the main Wheels for the World page

Prayer needs:

We are desperate for a male helper for our Cyprus Holiday 5th – 19th October. If anyone is interested please contact us when finance and other issues can be discussed.

Through the Roof has joined Facebook! Sign up to take part in discussions, suggest your ideas for fundraising, receive information about what we’re doing and see photos and videos from distributions, holidays and other projects. We’ll be adding more content as this page grows.

• Follow this link to visit TTR’s Facebook page — If you’re already a member, please ‘become a fan’ of Through the Roof, but if you’re not, you’ll need to sign up to Facebook in order to interact with other members — for now you’re able to see a little bit of what’s up there.
• Look here for Facebook’s own instructions on signing up. The link also contains troubleshooting information and details of Facebook’s privacy policies.
• Follow this link to sign up to Facebook
• Once you’ve signed up, please visit our Facebook page (Follow this link to find it), become a member and post your thoughts, videos and photos — we’re looking forward to hearing from you!
• Follow this link to learn more about Facebook’s safety practices.
• Follow this link for details of Facebook’s accessibility practices and information on how to sign up using a screen reader or other assistive devices.

Once a year we invite people to a weekend together, where our spiritual batteries can be refreshed, and training given so that all helpers have more confidence in the task they will be doing. We also discuss the holidays in more depth, and it is an encouragement for people to have opportunities to meet together as a family of DCF supporters.

This year’s holiday weekend went very well, with people feeling ‘very blessed’ and ‘uplifted’ as well as having the chance to learn from other groups. Among many positive comments, people wrote that it was…
‘Good to learn more of the background. Feel challenged to do something to attract others to be more involved. The 50th celebrations could provide a good ‘springboard’ for future development’ and that the… ‘fellowship was amazing. Good to meet other DCF’ers and hear of what they have done and how.’

More details about future training and team events are on the way.

• Follow this link to return to TTR’s home page
• Follow this link to return to the main DCF page

• Introduction to the theology of disability
• Biblical references
• Taking a person-centred approach and advocacy
• Guidelines for stewards and welcomers
• Inclusive language in inclusive ministry
• Words and phrases to be avoided
• Disabled children

Including people who are:

• Wheelchair users or have limited mobility
• Blind or partially sighted
• Deaf or hard of hearing
• Unable to attend church meetings

Including people who have:

• Learning disabilities
• Mental health issues
• Issues with self-harming or eating disorders
• Speech difficulty
• Dyslexia
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• Food intolerances or allergies
• Facial difference or other disfigurement

Sorry, the ‘Roofbreaker Guides’ are no longer available for download.  

The replacement publication ‘Be a Roofbreaker!’ can be purchased from our online shop.

Families worshipping together at the Dalesdown holiday

Parachute games at the Dalesdown holiday

Bubbles at the Dalesdown holiday

The Scheme has three specific objectives:

• Identify churches or specific church activities that aim for excellence
• Provide information, measurable standards, guidelines and ongoing evaluation to achieve this
• Provide a nationally recognised award

How does this differ from the old Churches for All award scheme ?

• Removing Barriers allows individual church activities e.g youth group, choir, main service, Alpha group etc to apply for the Basic Award
• The Basic Award is achieved by satisfactory completion of a self-assessement of an activity
• The Advanced award is awarded to a church that has achieved the basic award in all its activities

Why do we need standards?

• The Disability Discrimination Act  has helped but does not clearly set out guidelines for standards. 
• People with disabilities and differences need to know in advance if they can access an activity. 
• Publicising your award will promote the Christian message of being inclusive. 

How can I register for the Removing Barriers award scheme?

Please email your contact details to info@throughtheroof.org and we will let you know when this resource is available.